Chapter 206 - Trauma

"Too weak!? Don't think I'm stupid! I know what I'm capable of! A solid hit of mine should have at least broken one of your bones."

Trisha frustratedly replied. No matter how her mind ignores it, every strike she receives was painful. Furthermore, bruises have already formed all over her body.

In this short period, Trisha briefly learned what kind of Teren was. He was merciless and cold-blooded.

'He didn't have the hint of hesitation when attacking me. Even when he punched my breast earlier, he didn't pull back! Fuck! It's still throbs in pain!'

Trisha gritted her teeth before propping her dislocated shoulder back to its own place.

"Argh!" she shouted along with the sound of a crack.

She then deeply breathed before planning how she will escape this time. But unfortunately for her, Teren charged at her.

'He's going for offense this time!?'

Trisha unconsciously stepped back while her heart skipped a beat. At that little gap in time, she felt immense fear. 

Not too long ago, she fought back against her trauma. Now that she was still failing to win against the 'trauma' in the real world, it was resurfacing.

But that's not the time to contemplate, Trisha had to put up her defense!

Thud Thud Thud*

Each hit was solid and Trisha's felt her forearms burning in pain!

'I can't let him take the lead!'

The fire in her eyes intensely burned. The more the pain increases, the more she becomes desperate.

"AHHH!!"

She roared as she tried to tackle Teren away and switch to offense. However, her bullish attack was easily evaded, leaving her back vulnerable.

Thud*

One last impact made Trisha lose her consciousness. As her vision was turning dark, fear enveloped her entire being. 

The Hat Guy a.k.a Teren's face surfaced in her head. If she lost consciousness now, what kind of atrocities would he do to her.

Who's not afraid of death?

Therefore-

'I have to wake up!'

Bam!*

Trisha cracked the ground by stomping on it.

"I'll beat you up!!"

A strong declaration came out of her mouth. Fear has never deterred her, instead, it made her stronger.

"I'll show you why I'm special!"

With raging eyes, she locked onto Teren. That's why she saw every moment of it - the scene where this man simply parried her attacks away.

Is it because she had no form? Or because she's blindly attacking? Maybe, it's both.

That's why after a few desperate attacks, her neck was latched on by his terrifying grip.

'No...'

Trisha didn't have the time to escape as Teren's hooked her legs, letting her trip. Dropping on her back, he was not finished. He sat on her stomach, not giving her any chance to stand up or fight back.

"W-wait...!"

Trisha felt danger when Teren removed his hand on her neck and pulled it into a fist. She unconsciously put her forearm up before his fist hit her.

Bam*

It reminded her how merciless her opponent was. Her forearms are already covered in bruises and her skin were already teared up, covering it with blood.

The pain came biting her back again. For a moment, she became mindless as she shrieked.

"AHHHHH!!!"

With all her might, she tried to remove Teren; punch him, kick him, and even bite him. However, in that position and with her weakened body, there was virtually no effect.

Now, it's Teren's turn again.

Are there any more chances? Will there be a miracle? Can she escape in that position?

For the first time in her life, Trisha lost the first in her eyes. Her last hope was utterly destroyed as she began to tear up.

"Stop it..."

Bam*

But he was merciless. She had to put down her arms due to how beaten it was. Trisha was even willing to accept the strikes with her face.

In that desperate moment, she thought-

'I'm cute, maybe he will not hit my face?'

Bam*

But she's wrong. Left cheek, right cheek, left cheek, right cheek...

This time, falling unconscious was inevitable. Before her vision turned dark, she already felt puking from how dizzy she got.

'No... no... this man... he's going to kill me...'

Yet, there was nothing she could do as she collapses.

...

...

Soon, the pain came back to her.

"Ah..."

Trisha teared up just from sensing her body again. She could feel where all of her bruises are as they throbbed.

It took her a while before she can open her eyes again. While she does so, she just hopes, that by a slim miracle; what happened in her memory was just a dream and that this pain she feels was just a coincidence.

But the reality is not that kind. She saw that ceiling again.

Trisha's heartbeat increased as she began to sweat.

It's still not over?

That question kept repeating in her mind. She wanted to answer it so she sat up, still hoping that she wouldn't see the man responsible for her fear and anxiety.

But there he is. Sitting on the same chair, under the same light, and at the same distance.

"You're awake."

Trisha would've felt it was deja vu if not for the intense pain all over her body.

Gulp*

"W-what do you want?"

Contrary to before, her mind was not as observant. It took her some time before she realized that she's in a new set of clothes while her body was filled with bandages.

Teren stood up, making Trisha uncontrollably flinch. The way he sat on her stomach and endlessly pummeled her resurfaced in her head. She began to tremble.

"You're a diamond in the making or steel on its way to becoming a sharp sword."

He replied with ambiguous words once again. But this time, Trisha understood it.

"You understand?"

She nodded.

Normally, when one was traumatized, it would be hard to remove. However, learning that she wouldn't die, the flame in Trisha's eyes rekindled. From what she understood, Teren wants to strengthen her.

Trisha is aware of what kind of method that would be. When she was traumatized back then, she became physically stronger when she mentally overcame it.

But, unfortunately for her, Teren didn't stop there.

"To let you know what to expect, we will go through five stages. The order is irrelevant but I have to give you 'opportunities' physically, mentally, spiritually, sexually, and honorability. There might be more but let's explore on the way."

Teren paused to let Trisha digest what he was trying to say.

'Oftentimes, fear and anxiety are more unbearable than the pain itself.'

He thought to himself.

"While you try to overcome them, you will stay here.. Once you're strong enough, it's your choice to whether be on my side or become my enemy."